How will you spend Thanksgiving?

The coffee shop employee told me with a big smile she was planning to have six Thai students from Ohio State come for dinner on Thanksgiving Day. She'd heard about the International Friendships program at her church, and thought it would be a lot of fun. I was an English language partner with a young Chinese woman for several years through that program. Another employee told me she'd either be spending the day alone, or with her family. She wasn't smiling. I don't think either option had much appeal. One of the regulars regaled me with stories of his wife's dysfunctional family and past holidays. Yes, holidays are interesting, aren't they?

We'll be going to our daughter's after 10 a.m. services at Lytham Road UALC where the chancel will be heaped with sacks of groceries. From there the food goes to Lutheran Social Services Food Panty.

Coffee hunt

Many employers really do give Thanksgiving Day off. I discovered this last Thanksgiving when I had quite a search to find an open coffee shop. Panera’s, Caribou, Starbucks, Bob Evans, Tim Horton’s, Wendy’s, McDonald’s. All were closed so employees could enjoy time with their families, or time to sleep in, or time to clean the garage.

Finally I saw an open White Castle and pulled in. I’d never been in one. No house newspaper or classical music, just big windows and small booths, but the coffee was excellent. Perhaps because it was a holiday with no baggage for them, there were two Hispanics, an Asian woman, a developmentally disabled man, and a Canadian supervisor (I don’t know that, but his haughty attitude and countenance reminded me of Peter Jennings, so I’m calling him a Canadian) working the pre-dawn hours. I had to return the next day--they wouldn’t take a $20--and said I could pay next time.